Monday, February 05, 2007

And one time...at a Wizards game...

As I sat and watched the Wizards trail 70-58 in the third quarter to Seattle, I asked myself a simple question: What’s wrong?

Is this team really suffering because of Antawn Jamison’s absence? Do they really need Jamison to win or is this team just coasting?

I choose the latter.

Eddie Jordan, in so many words, said just that after the loss to the Lakers. “We’re just proving people’s point when we don’t play well without Antawn,” Jordan said on Saturday. “I know we can do it, we just need to do it.”

Amen, brother.

Washington has the potential to beat every team on any given night. Losing Antawn only takes away the defensive rebounding numbers he provides. In that sense Jamison is a luxury, making up for the inefficiency at the center position. It’s his eight or nine rebounds a game the Wizards are hurting for the most, not his points. They have others to fill that void.

Jamison also provides the Wizards with a legitimate veteran leader. He is a quiet, yet effective, voice as the team captain. But that means nothing.

The Wizards have a veteran, playoff-weathered ball team. Lack of leadership translates into lack of effort in my book. There is no excuse for the Wizards to play bad basketball unless they’ve become complacent with where they stand.

The selection of three All-Stars, including head coach Eddie Jordan, may have started this recent trend. Plus, the Wizards are leading the Eastern Conference. Not to mention that they’re playing four home games against Western Conference opponents before the break. That can’t hurt there standings.

The Wizards need to develop a killer instinct, consistently. Furthermore, the bench players need to realize they have a golden opportunity to steal face time without Jamison in the lineup.

If the Wizards can’t win without a full set they aren’t ready to contend for a championship. It’s what San Antonio has, what Chicago had in the ’90s and what the Patriots have in the NFL. No matter the circumstances, no matter the opponent, those championship teams play(ed) consistently every time out. Those are teams that understand greatness is a full-time gig.

Washington can’t depend on Gilbert to drop 40 points every night. It’s a situation where you hope for the best and play for the rest. Championships are earned by teams, not individuals.

Injury Update

Darius Songaila is back but don’t expect too much. If Songaila began playing three weeks ago, he would be able to occupy the void left by Jamison. But with only two games under his belt, by the time he gets acclimated to the system Jamison will be back on the court.

This doesn’t mean Songaila won’t be useful. He just isn’t useful right now.

P.S.

The team must have heard my cries. With 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, the Wizards now lead 113-101. Put me in coach!

As I sit and watch the Wizards losing 70-58 in the third quarter to Seattle, I asked myself a simple question. What’s wrong?

Is this team really suffering because of Antawn Jamison’s absence? Could they really need Jamison to win? Or is this team just coasting?

I choose the latter.

Eddie Jordan, in so many words, said it after the loss to the Lakers. “We’re just proving people’s point when we don’t play well without Antwan,” Jordan said. “I know we can do it, we just need to do it.”

Amen brother.

The Wizards have the potential to beat every team on any given night. Losing Antawn only takes away the defensive rebounding numbers that he provides. In that sense Jamison is a luxury. He makes up for the inefficiency at the center position. It’s eight or nine rebounds a game that the Wizards are hurting for the most, not his points. They have other stuff for that.

Jamison also provides the Wizards with a legitimate veteran leader. He is a quiet, yet effective, voice as the team captain. But that means nothing.

The Wizards have a veteran, playoff weathered ball team. Lack of leadership translates lack of effort in my book. There is no excuse for the Wizards to play bad basketball unless they’ve become complacent with where they stand.

Three all-stars, including head coach Eddie Jordan, may have started this recent trend. Second, the Wizards are leading the Eastern Conference. Not to mention that there playing 4 home games before the break against Western Conference opponents. That can’t hurt their conference lead.

The Wizards need to develop a killer instinct, consistently. Furthermore, the bench players need to realize they have a golden opportunity to steal face time without Jamison in the lineup.

If the Wizards can’t win without a full set they aren’t ready to contend for a championship. It’s what San Antonio has, what Chicago had in the 90’s, and what the Patriots have in the NFL. No matter what the circumstances, no matter who the opponent is, they play(ed) consistently every time out. Those are teams that understand greatness is a full time gig.

The Wizards can’t depend on Gilbert to drop 40 points every night. It’s a situation where you hope for the best and play for the rest. Championships are earned by teams, not individuals.

Injury Update

Darius Songaila is back but don’t expect too much. If Songaila begun playing three weeks ago he would be able to occupy the void left by Jamison being out. With only two games under his belt, by the time he gets acclimated to the system Jamison will be back on the court.

This doesn’t mean that Songaila won’t be useful. He just isn’t useful right now.

P.S.

The team must have heard my cries. With 2:26 left in the fourth quarter they now lead 113-101. Put me in coach!